The Toronto Argonauts are the last unbeaten team left in the CFL. They’ve also had to play the fewest games, thanks to two early-season byes in Weeks 1 and 5.
The defending Grey Cup champion Argonauts will try to stay perfect when they visit the rival Montreal Alouettes on Friday.
Toronto (3-0) has averaged a whopping 40 points per game to start the season with wins over Hamilton (32-14), Edmonton (43-31) and BC (45-24).
The offense has been powered by running back A.J. Ouellette, whose four rushing touchdowns lead the league, and a name at quarterback familiar to American football fans: Chad Kelly.
The nephew of Jim Kelly did not stay in the NFL for long, but after signing with Toronto last year, he has ascended to the role of starting quarterback in 2023. He has gone 50-for-75 passing for 751 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions through three games.
“You eat, sleep, breathe football, things are going to come together,” Kelly told reporters, per WGRZ in Buffalo, N.Y. “I thank the good Lord every single day. I’m in this position. I love all my teammates. I love all my coaches, the whole staff, we have a fantastic franchise right here in Toronto, and I’m excited to see where we’re going.”
Amid the hot run, Toronto awarded head coach Ryan Dinwiddie with a multi-year contract extension earlier this week.
The Alouettes (2-2) are in second place in the East Division behind Toronto after two straight losses — 17-3 to Winnipeg on July 1 and 35-19 to BC on Sunday.
They could swallow those setbacks easily if they become the first team to take down Toronto this season.
“I think it (would be) a huge win,” Alouettes coach Jason Maas said, per the Montreal Gazette. “They’re the best in the East. There’s no denying that. Their record states that. They’re the defending Grey Cup champs, and they’re defending (the title) right now. To beat them would be great.”
Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo has a pair of pass-catching weapons in Austin Mack and Kaion Julien-Grant, who rank first and third in the CFL with 388 and 351 receiving yards, respectively.
The Argonauts ruled out offensive lineman Isiah Cage (thigh), defensive back Eric Sutton (knee) and linebacker Jordan Williams (knee). The Alouettes are at full strength.
–Field Level Media
